Commission Says UN Curbing Media In Kosovo

13 July 2004 -- The head of an OSCE media commission says the United Nations-run police and judicial authorities in Kosovo are threatening media freedoms.

Robert Gillette is head of the commission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is tasked with protecting press freedoms in the disputed province. He said today that UN-run police and prosecutors are threatening media rights by demanding access to material gathered by journalists.

Gillette said his office has received reports from at least six television stations about authorities seizing tapes and pressuring stations to hand over material.

He said that in some cases, the authorities summoned journalists for questioning without court approval.

Gilette said that such practices risk eroding the freedom of expression in Kosovo.